How bungled coup unfolded in DR Congo as US national Christian Malanga amassed a 40-strong militia and his son Marcel to overthrow the government

The Democratic Republic of the Congo military thwarted an 'attempted coup' led by a US national and his 40-strong militia to overthrow the country's government.

The plot was led by Christian Malanga, a Congolese man who was a 'naturalized American' and was 'definitively neutralized' - shot dead - by security forces.

The attempted coup by 'foreigners and Congolese' nationals took place in the early hours of Sunday in the Gombe area in the north of the capital, near the Palais de la Nation that houses the president's offices.

The Congolese government said around dozens of attackers had been arrested, and four - including Malanga - killed. 

Among those arrested was Marcel Malanga, 21, who accompanied his former refugee father Christian to the central African country from their home in Utah.

Two American co-conspirators, including Benjamin Zalman-Polun, a 36-year-old former cannabis dealer from Maryland, were also seized by authorities.

Here DailyMail.com examines exactly how the bungled putsch unfolded. 

The Democratic Republic of the Congo military on Sunday thwarted an 'attempted coup' to led by US national Christian Malanga and his 40-strong militia to overthrow the government

United Congolese Party opposition group attacks the capital

Gunfire rang out around 4am on Sunday in the Congolese capital Kinshasa, near the offices of President Felix Tshisekedi.

Armed men were wearing military uniforms and brandishing flags of Zaire, the name of the Democratic Republic of Congo under the dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, who was overthrown in 1997.

The group attempted a to overthrow Tshisekedi's government by attempting to attack some of the city's most secure streets, which are home to several Congolese officials and ambassadors and serve as headquarters to a slew of institutions.

The plot was led by Christian Malanga, (left) a Congolese man who was a 'naturalized American'. His son Marcel, 21, (right) was among those arrested during the incident on Sunday

The group filmed themselves as they arrived at the president's office in the Palais de la Nation 

Benjamin Zalman-Polun (left) is a long-standing associate of Christian Malanga. He is pictured with another alleged opposition member during the attempted coup on Sunday morning

Members of the United Congolese Party opposition group are pictured outside the Palais de la Nation amid Sunday's failed coup

Failed attempt to attack Congolese leaders

The group had planned to attack the home of new Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka, and the residence of Defence Minister Jean-Pierre Bemba.

Reports indicate the group made their way towards their residences but they 'could not identify the home' of Suminwa and had not been able to find Bemba at his residence. 

It is unclear at exactly what time the opposition group attempted to locate the homes. But Congolese authorities have obtained footage of an attacker admitting they had planned to attack the residences.

Attackers open fire on Economy Minister's home 

The group clashed with guards of Vital Kamerhe, a federal legislator and a candidate for speaker of the National Assembly of Congo, at his Tshatshi Boulevard residence in Kinshasa, about 1.2milesfrom the presidential palace, around 4.30am.

Kamerhe's guards stopped the armed men, Michel Moto Muhima, the politician's spokesperson said, adding that Kamerhe and his family were not harmed.

Two police officers looking after the Kamerhe family and one of the attackers were killed in the shootout, said a source close to the minister.

Footage, seemingly from the area, showed military trucks and heavily armed men parading deserted streets in the neighborhood as the army said the situation has been brought under control.

A shell fired from Kinshasa also hit the city of Brazzaville in neighboring Republic of Congo, injuring several people, that country's government said in a statement. One person had been hospitalized. 

Gunfire rang out around 4am on Sunday in the Congolese capital Kinshasa, near the Palais de la Nation (pictured), which houses the offices of President Felix Tshisekedi

The group had planned to attack the residence of Defence Minister Jean-Pierre Bemba (left) and the home of new Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka (right)

Malanga and his supporters storm the Palais de la Nation 

Christian Malanga, 41, broadcasted live on Facebook from inside the presidential palace surrounded by several people in military uniform and said: 'Felix, you're out. We are coming for you.'

He was surrounded by his son Marcel and approximately 50 armed men whose military uniforms displayed a badge of the Zaire flag.

'We, the militants, are tired. We cannot drag on with Tshisekedi and Kamerhe, they have done too many stupid things in this country,' Malanga, ringleader of the United Congolese Party opposition group, declared in the Lingala language.

Marcel, 21, who had accompanied his former refugee father to the central African country from their home in Utah, looked terrified as he was hauled into frame in the Facebook livestream. 

Congolese authorities 'neutralize' the attackers

The attempted coup d´état was 'nipped in the bud by Congolese defense and security forces', Army spokesman Brig. Gen. Sylvain Ekenge said Sunday in a message broadcast on national television.

'An attempted coup d'etat has been stopped by the defence and security forces,' said General Sylvain Ekenge in a message broadcast on national television.

Marcel Malanga, 21, looked terrified as he was hauled into frame ahead of the coup attempt in a video posted to Facebook by his father 

Marcel Malanga joined his father's supporters as they assembled at a Kinshasa location ahead of the coup attempt. 

Christian Malanga, 41, (front, right) broadcasted live on Facebook from inside the presidential palace surrounded by several people in military uniform and said: 'Felix, you're out. We are coming for you'

Armed men were pictured inside the palace wearing military uniforms and brandishing flags of Zaire, the name of the Democratic Republic of Congo under the dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, who was overthrown in 1997

The group are pictured inside the palace amid the attempted coup on Sunday

Opposition group members are pictured with what appears to be a mutilated DR Congo flag during Sunday's coup

The group was made up of 'several nationalities', Ekenge said, adding that around 40 of the attackers had been arrested, and four - including Malanga - killed.

'We also have a naturalized British subject, the number two of the group,' the spokesman added.

Malanga was shot dead at the presidential palace after he resisted arrest by guards.

'Malanga was definitively neutralized during the attack on the Palais de la Nation, a certain Aboubacar was neutralized during the attack on the residence of Vital Kamarhe the others - around 50 including three American citizens - were arrested and are currently undergoing interrogation by the specialized services of the Armed Forces,' Ekenge said. 

Malanga's American-born son is arrested after pleading for his life

Video of Marcel's arrest, which appears to have taken place on street presumably near the palace, shows him alongside a bearded figure who seems to speak with a British accent as he insists he is unarmed.

Both men appeared in fear of their lives as they sat bloodied and bruised in a dusty street before troops cuffed them and led them away.

Marcel is understood to have pleaded for his life as he and two other Americans, including a Maryland cannabis dealer Benjamin Zalman-Polun, were seized by the government.

Zalman-Polun's passport was gleefully displayed by the victorious troops. Zalman-Polun is a long-standing associate of Malanga, who has pictures of them both in Facebook posts dating back at least three years. 

Video of Marcel's arrest, which appears to have taken place on street presumably near the palace, shows him alongside a bearded figure who seems to speak with a British accent 

Both men appeared in fear of their lives as they sat bloodied and bruised in a dusty street before troops cuffed them and led them away 

Police are pictured taking Marcel (left) and another alleged opposition member (right) into custody 

Benjamin Zalman-Polun's American passport was gleefully displayed by the victorious troops 

Another American, along with a British national, were being questioned in custody.

DR Congo President Tshisekedi hasn't so far addressed the public about Sunday's events.

On Friday, he met with parliamentarians and leaders of the Sacred Union of the Nation ruling coalition in an attempt to resolve the crisis seizing his party, which dominates the national assembly. 

Tshisekedi said he would not 'hesitate to dissolve the National Assembly and send everyone to new elections if these bad practices persist.' 

Local residents left 'afraid' and global leaders express 'concern' following the attack

Certain streets near the Palais de la Nation remained closed to traffic during the day on Sunday, but the situation appeared calm, local media reported.

'I'm a little afraid to move around like that in Gombe, there aren't many people... But I have to sell my goods,' bread-seller Jean-Mbuta told AFP.

US Ambassador Lucy Tamlyn said in a post on social media after the attempted coup that she was 'very concerned' by reports that American citizens had allegedly been involved in the events.

'Please be assured that we will cooperate with the DRC authorities to the fullest extent as they investigate these criminal acts and hold accountable any U.S. citizen involved in criminal acts,' she said.

Certain streets near the Palais de la Nation remained closed to traffic during the day on Sunday, but the situation appeared calm. Pictured is the Congolese Republican Guard and police block a road around the scene of an attempted coup in Gombe

The Congolese Republican Guard diverts traffic from the scene of an attempted Coup in Kinshasa on May 19, 2024

The US embassy had earlier issued a security alert warning of 'ongoing activity by DRC security elements' and reports of gunfire in the area.

The United Nations' stabilization mission in the DRC said that its chief, Bintou Keita, condemned the incidents in the strongest terms and offered her support to the Congolese authorities in a post on X.

African Union Commission chief Moussa Faki Mahamat was following events in the DRC with 'great concern' and 'strongly condemns' the attempted coup, the AU said in a statement.

France's ambassador had reported automatic weapon fire in the area, urging nationals to avoid it.

Coup attempt came as Tshisekedi's government faced leadership crisis

African Union Commission chief Moussa Faki Mahamat was following events in the DRC with 'great concern' and 'strongly condemns' the attempted coup, the AU said in a statement.

France's ambassador had reported automatic weapon fire in the area, urging nationals to avoid it.

Malanga launched his attack Sunday amid a crisis gripping Tshisekedi's ruling party over an election for the parliament's leadership, which was supposed to be held Saturday but was postponed. 

Tshisekedi was re-elected at the end of December when he received more than 70 percent of votes in the first round. The parties backing him won around 90 percent of seats in the parliamentary elections held the same day.

But he has yet to name a government, six weeks after appointing a prime minister.

President Felix Tshisekedi was re-elected at the end of December when he received more than 70 percent of votes in the first round. He is pictured with Vital Kamerhe in 2018

On his website, Christian Malanga (center, pictured with apparent supporters in an undated photograph) is described as 'a grassroots platform that unifies the Congolese Diaspora around the world opposing the current Congolese dictatorship'

Kamerhe was a candidate for speaker of parliament in an election that had been scheduled for Saturday but was delayed by Tshisekedi amid calls for a revote from the opposition over what they said was a lack of transparency. 

The Central African country has witnessed similar trends of disputed elections in the past.

On his website, Malanga is described as 'a grassroots platform that unifies the Congolese Diaspora around the world opposing the current Congolese dictatorship.' He first attempted and aborted a coup in 2017.